In Brief
A woman died in her matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. The trial court convicted her husband under Section 304B IPC (dowry death) based on allegations that he had demanded a motorcycle and land as dowry. The High Court upheld the conviction but reduced the sentence from 10 to 7 years. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and acquitted the appellant, holding that the prosecution failed to prove that the deceased had been subjected to cruelty or harassment immediately before her death in connection with dowry demands. The demands allegedly occurred months after marriage, not shortly before death. Mere death in matrimonial circumstances without credible proximate evidence of dowry-related harassment cannot sustain conviction under Section 304B or 498A IPC.
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